Samuel has anointed Saul to be the king. Only Saul and Samuel knew what had happened, but now it was time for Israel to meet their king!
I Samuel 10:17-19- And Samuel called the people together unto the LORD to Mizpeh; And said unto the children of Israel, Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, I brought up Israel out of Egypt, and delivered you out of the hand of the Egyptians, and out of the hand of all kingdoms, and of them that oppressed you: And ye have this day rejected your God, who himself saved you out of all your adversities and your tribulations; and ye have said unto him, Nay, but set a king over us. Now therefore present yourselves before the LORD by your tribes, and by your thousands.
Samuel gathered all Israel together. He, again, told them that they were making a mistake in asking for a king. Then, he started to show them who the king would be.
I Samuel 10:20-21- And when Samuel had caused all the tribes of Israel to come near, the tribe of Benjamin was taken. When he had caused the tribe of Benjamin to come near by their families, the family of Matri was taken, and Saul the son of Kish was taken: and when they sought him, he could not be found.
Samuel was showing them that Saul was the one that was going to be the king, but Saul was hiding. Why? Perhaps he was still ashamed and thought himself unworthy. Or maybe he was scared.
I Samuel 10:22-25- Therefore they enquired of the LORD further, if the man should yet come thither. And the LORD answered, Behold, he hath hid himself among the stuff. And they ran and fetched him thence: and when he stood among the people, he was higher than any of the people from his shoulders and upward. And Samuel said to all the people, See ye him whom the LORD hath chosen, that there is none like him among all the people? And all the people shouted, and said, God save the king. Then Samuel told the people the manner of the kingdom, and wrote it in a book, and laid it up before the LORD. And Samuel sent all the people away, every man to his house.
Samuel showed the people their new king. There were some who were so happy that they shouted and cheered. Others followed the king home to serve him. But, not everyone was happy with God's choice.
I Samuel 10:26-27- And Saul also went home to Gibeah; and there went with him a band of men, whose hearts God had touched. But the children of Belial said, How shall this man save us? And they despised him, and brought him no presents. But he held his peace.
Saul didn't pay any attention to those who didn't like him being king. He just went home and did what he knew he should.
Not long after, God was going to use Saul to gain a great victory for Israel against her enemies.
I Samuel 11:1-3- Then Nahash the Ammonite came up, and encamped against Jabeshgilead: and all the men of Jabesh said unto Nahash, Make a covenant with us, and we will serve thee. And Nahash the Ammonite answered them, On this condition will I make a covenant with you, that I may thrust out all your right eyes, and lay it for a reproach upon all Israel. And the elders of Jabesh said unto him, Give us seven days' respite, that we may send messengers unto all the coasts of Israel: and then, if there be no man to save us, we will come out to thee.
A wicked man came to one of the cities of Israel and wanted to fight. The men of the city didn't want war, so they asked him if they could just become their servants instead. The wicked man said he would take them as servants if they would let him make them blind in one eye.
That wasn't a very good deal! The men of the city wanted to send out messengers to see if anyone would come to their rescue.
I Samuel 11:4-7- Then came the messengers to Gibeah of Saul, and told the tidings in the ears of the people: and all the people lifted up their voices, and wept. And, behold, Saul came after the herd out of the field; and Saul said, What aileth the people that they weep? And they told him the tidings of the men of Jabesh. And the Spirit of God came upon Saul when he heard those tidings, and his anger was kindled greatly. And he took a yoke of oxen, and hewed them in pieces, and sent them throughout all the coasts of Israel by the hands of messengers, saying, Whosoever cometh not forth after Saul and after Samuel, so shall it be done unto his oxen. And the fear of the LORD fell on the people, and they came out with one consent.
When Saul heard what was going on, he sent out a call- come help me save Jabesh or have your cattle killed. God was with Saul, because He wanted Saul to win. The fear of the Lord fell on the people, and an army showed up to follow Saul!
I Samuel 11:8-9- And when he numbered them in Bezek, the children of Israel were three hundred thousand, and the men of Judah thirty thousand. And they said unto the messengers that came, Thus shall ye say unto the men of Jabeshgilead, To morrow, by that time the sun be hot, ye shall have help. And the messengers came and shewed it to the men of Jabesh; and they were glad.
Saul told the men of the city that he and an army were coming to their rescue. 330,000 men were coming. But, more importantly, the Lord was coming with them.
I Samuel 11:11- And it was so on the morrow, that Saul put the people in three companies; and they came into the midst of the host in the morning watch, and slew the Ammonites until the heat of the day: and it came to pass, that they which remained were scattered, so that two of them were not left together.
God helped them win the battle against the wicked man.
I Samuel 11:12-15- And the people said unto Samuel, Who is he that said, Shall Saul reign over us? bring the men, that we may put them to death. And Saul said, There shall not a man be put to death this day: for to day the LORD hath wrought salvation in Israel. Then said Samuel to the people, Come, and let us go to Gilgal, and renew the kingdom there. And all the people went to Gilgal; and there they made Saul king before the LORD in Gilgal; and there they sacrificed sacrifices of peace offerings before the LORD; and there Saul and all the men of Israel rejoiced greatly.
The people now knew that God had indeed chosen Saul to be their king. They went with Samuel to crown him King and to praise the Lord for his choice.
Would Saul be a good king? Would he obey the Lord and lead the Children of Israel in His ways? We shall see.
